Gas storage container



Allg. 2, 1949. w, T. HUDSON 2,477,606

GAS STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 5, 1946 TQQ. fl, y

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atented Aug. 2, 1949 V l NITED rA'rEs PAT N 0 F IC E Ch of l lznois igo Bridge & Iron Company, a corporation Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,440

This invention relates to a gas storage container for the storage of gas under pressure.

lt is common practice when storing volatile liquids to provide additional storage space for the gases evolved from the liquid. In the ordinary installation this is done by having an expansible balloon communicating with the storage tank for the volatile liquid. As the gases are evolved they flow into the balloon where they are stored under pressure, When condensation occurs or when the gases are withdrawn for use the expansible balloon collapses. It is preferred that the gas be stored under substantially constant pressure, but this is not always true in the ordinary balloons.

I have invented a gas storage balloon comprising a hollow shell that is preferably located around the shell of a storage tank. The hollow shell is provided with exible sealing means dividing the hollow shell into sections that are movf able toward and away from each other and toward and away from the tank shell. Hanger means are mounted on the tank shell for movably supporting the sections, and a gas flow conduit is provided communicating with the space between the hollow shell and the tank shell. Thus the balloon will have an annular storage space whose inner Wall is xed, but whose outer wall is movable.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a gas storage balloon embodying the invention with portions broken away for clarity of illustration; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially through the center of the balloon of Fig. 1.

The gas storage balloon shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a center cylindrical shell lll which may be the shell of a storage tank, an outer cylindrical shell II made up of sections It of a cylinder, and hanger bars I3 extending between the inner cylinder I0 and the outer cylindrical sections I2 movably supporting said sections.

Between adjacent vertical edges of the cylindrical sections I2 there are located flexible sealing members I4 that render these areas gas-tight. Reinlcrcements such as chains I 5 are provided in order to reinforce the sealing members I 4 and remove tension from them.

The hanger bars i3 are rotatably mounted on the inner cylinder l0 and at each cylindrical section l2 by means of brackets I6. As shown there are four hanger bars to each cylindrical section l2 with one pair being at the top and the 13 Claims. (Cl. 48-173) other at the bottom. These hanger bars permit movement of the cylindrical sections I2 toward -and away from the inner cylinder II) and toward and away from each other. It is preferred that the hanger bars be inclined upwardly from the inner cylinder I0 so that the weight of the cylindrical sections I2 always tends to hold them against the inner cylinder Ill. Under these conditions the gas will be stored at substantially constant pressure at all times.

The gas storage balloon of this invention may be used around the shell of a storage tank having either a xed roof or a floating roof. In the embodiment shown the inner cylinder IIJ is the shell of a floating roof tank with the iloating roof not shown.

An annular wind girder I'I is provided at the top of the inner cylinder I0, projecting beyond the farthest position of the cylindrical sections I2. This wind girder has a downwardly projecting portion I8 at its outer edge, and the girder serves to protect the top of the storage balloon from wind, rain, snow, and the like. A gas conduit I9 is provided for flow of gas into the storage portion of the ballon with the conduit extending through the annular wind girder Il.

In order to seal the bottom area between the inner cylinder I0 and cylindrical sections I2 there is provided an annular flexible sealing member 20 extending between the bottom edges of the cylindrical sections I 2 and the bottom edge of the inner cylinder I0. The inner edge of the flexible sealing member 20 may be attached to an extension 2i of the tank bottoxr 22. There is also f a similar annular sealing member 23 provided at the top of the cylindrical sections I2 with the inner edge of this sealing member fastened to the wind girder I'I beyond the gas conduit I 9.

In order to limit outward movement of the cylindrical sections I2 to provide a gas storage space having a predetermined maximum, there is provided an ordinary release valve 24 mounted on one of the cylindrical sections I2 and connected to the inner cylinder I0 by a flexible member'such as a chain 25. As soon as the cylindrical sections I2 have reached their predetermined maximum movement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the chain 25 causes a valve 24 to open and vent the excess gases.

` The ilexible sealing members I4 between adjacent vertical edges of the cylindrical sections I2 and the top and bottom sealing members 20 and 23 are preferably fabric impregnated with a ilexible gas impervious material.

Although the inner cylinder I0 is shown as part f 2,477,606 i' l of a iloating roof tank, the balloon may be used on any kind of tank desired. Where the tank is one having a xed roof the wind girder I1 may be only an overhanging extension of the fixed roof. 4

A gas storage lballoon of the type shown and described herein not only serves to store gas under pressure, but also performs a secondary service in insulating the tank around which it is built. This insulating eiect would serve to reduce evaporation of the contents of the inner cylinder l caused by the heat of the sun.

When the gas storage balloon is empty the cylindrical sections I2 will be adjacent the inner cylinder I0. As gas flows through the conduit I9, which may be connected to storage tanks of xed capacity, the sections l 2 move away from the inner cylinder lo until the maximum capacity has been reached. At this point the chain 25 will vent cxcess gas through the valve 24.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A g'as storage container comprising a hollow shell to be located around the shell of a storage tank, ilexible sealing means dividing said hollow shell into gas tight sections that are movable toward and away from each other and toward and away from the tank shell in a substantially horizontal plane, hanger means to be mounted on the tank shell for movably supporting the sections, and a gas flow conduit communicating with the space between the hollow shell and the tank shell.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein means are provided tending to hold the hollow shell adjacent the tank shell.

3. The container of claim l wherein the tank shell is substantially a cylinder and the hollow shell comprises substantially cylindrical sections.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the hanger means are pivotally attached to the tank shell and the hollow shell and are pivotal at the tank about an axis slightly inclined from the vertical. said hangers being inclined upwardly from the tank to the hollow shell so that the weight of the sections tends to hold them adjacent the tank shell.

5. A gas storage container comprising ahollow shell to be located around the shell of a substantially cylindrical storage tank with the hollow shell comprising sections of cylinders having their vertical edges adjacent each other and with flexible sealing means connecting said adjacent edges, hanger means to be mounted on the tank shell for movably supporting the sections with said sections being movable toward and away from each other and toward and away from the tank shell in a substantially horizontal plane, gas flow conduit means communicating with the space between the hollow shell and the tank shell, sealing means sealing the area between the bottom of the hollow shell and the tank shell, and sealing means sealing the area between the top of 4 the hollow shell and the tank shell to form a gas tight hollow shell about the tank shell.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said seal- I ing means connecting adjacent edges of the cylindrical sections and the sealing means at the bottom and top of the hollow shell are flexible sealing members that`permit movement of the cylindrical sections.

1. The container of claim 5 wherein exible reinforcements are provided at the adjacent edges of the cylindrical sections to reinforce the sealing means at said edges.

8. The container of claim 5 wherein flexible reinforcements comprising chains are provided at the adjacent edges of the cylindrical sections to reinforce the sealing means.

9. The container of claim 5 wherein means are provided limiting outward movement of said hollow shell to a predetermined maximum.

10. The container of claim 5 wherein means are provided limiting outward movement of said hollow shell to a predetermined maximum, said means comprising a ilexible member attached to the tank shell and connected to a valve means mounted on one cylindrical section.

11. The container of claim 5 wherein the hanger means are pivotally attached to the tank and to the hollow shell and are pivotal at the tank about an axis slightly inclined from the vertical, said hanger means being inclined upwardly from the tank shell to the hollow shell so that the weight of the cylindrical sections tends to hold them adjacent the tank shell.

12. A gas storage container comprising a hollow shell to be located around the shell of a substantially cylindrical storage tank with the hollow shell comprising cylindrical sections having their vertical edges adjacent each other and with flexible sealing members and spaced chains connecting said adjacent edges, hanger means comprising bars to be pivotally attached to the tank shell and the cylindrical sections, said bars being pivotal at the tank about an axis slightly inclined from the vertical and with each bar inclined upwardly from the tank shell so that the weight of the sections tends to hold them against the shell, flexible sealing members sealing the area between the bottom of the hollow shell and the tank shell, flexible sealing members sealing the area between the top of the hollow shell and the tank shell, and gas ow conduit means communicating with the space between the hollow shell and the tank shell.

13. A gas storage container having an annular storage space and comprising an inner cylindrical shell and a movable outer cylindrical shell. said outer shell comprising cylindrical sections f having their vertical edges joined by flexible sealing means with each section being supported for movement toward and away from each other and toward and away from the inner cylindrical shell in a substantially horizontal plane, and ilexible sealing means sealing the space at the top of the outer shell and at the bottom of the outer shell. f-

WILLIAM T. HUDSON.

No references cited. 

